Introduction
It is imperative to mention that the story of “Moneyball” is truly fascinating and has had an enormous impact on baseball as a whole. Team managers have recognized that it is possible to generate tremendous amounts of funds. Statistics have been utilized in sports for many years to increase the level of efficiency of operations. However, some of the formulas that were used were quite basic and lacked depth. Moreover, the introduction of this approach has been revolutionary and has changed the game of baseball.
Discussion
One of the primary issues that players had to deal with is that particular aspects were valued much more than others, and it was nearly impossible to get into a professional team if required attributes were average. Scouts were looking at such factors as speed and strength (Forbes 85). Hitting for average was also considered to be a vital factor when making decisions. Moreover, individuals that did not show high numbers in these areas were overlooked.
Sabermetrics is quite an intriguing term, and many new statistics were introduced. The analytic unit that has been developed by Beane has helped to analyze the data much more efficiently, and many aspects that were not taken into account were identified (Foster, O’Reilly, and Davila 147). On-base percentage is frequently undervalued, but it is quite an important indicator that shows how productive a player would be when it comes to offense on the field. It is necessary to understand that this measure is crucial, and it can be combined with a slugging average to determine the capabilities of a particular player (Albert 5).
Hakes and Sauer utilize a linear regression to support the suggested hypothesis. The primary goal is to establish a direct connection of on-base percentage with wins of the team. The approach is compared to the idea that the slugging percentage is much more important. However, the results that have been received are intriguing. They indicate that coefficients for slugging are two times lower. Moreover, the authors of the study state that any changes to the on-base percentage have a much bigger impact (Hakes and Sauer 175). It is necessary to mention that there have been many instances when approaches that are outdated are replaced with innovative techniques that are much cheaper (Slack and Parent 23).
For example, new technologies to record games have been introduced. Moreover, it has become much easier to analyze them. All the events may be put into spreadsheets and stored. Also, it is possible to keep track of many factors that may impact the game. Some individuals have tried to apply weather forecasts and other real-time statistics to determine the outcome of the match, and it is evident that it changes the landscape of every sport.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is quite evident that this approach has played a vital role, and has led to the development of innovative techniques that are used to this day (Thaler and Sunstein 30). The tools of data analysis have become incredibly advanced, and it is possible to take numerous factors into account when selecting players that are needed. It is understandable that one may argue that such aspects as team spirit and motivation are not considered. However, this strategy has proven to be efficient over the years and has led to numerous victories. Overall, it has been adopted by many teams, and it may have to be modified depending on the situation.
Works Cited
Albert, Jim. “Sabermetrics: The Past, the Present, and the Future” Mathematics and Sports. Ed. Joseph A. Gallian. Washington, DC: The Mathematical Association of America, 2010. 3-14. Print.
Forbes, William. Behavioral Finance. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Print.
Foster, George, Norman O’Reilly, and Antonio Davila. Sports Business Management: Decision Making Around the Globe. New York, NY: Routledge, 2016. Print.
Hakes, Jahn K., and Raymond D. Sauer. “An Economic Evaluation of the Moneyball Hypothesis.” The Journal of Economic Perspectives 20.3 (2006): 173-185. Print.
Slack, Trevor, and Milena M. Parent. Understanding Sport Organizations: The Application of Organization Theory. 2nd ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2006. Print.
Thaler, Richard H., and Cass R. Sunstein. “Who’s on First?” New Republic. 2003: 27-30. Print.